Within These Walls (1945)

Michael Howland, a stern hanging judge, is assigned to take over a chaotic prison. There Michael imposes a strict regime of discipline on the inmates. He is similarly rigid and harsh with ... See full summary »

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

James B. Fisher (story), Eugene Ling,

Stars:

Thomas Mitchell, Mary Anderson, Edward Ryan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thomas Mitchell	...	Warden Michael Howland
Mary Anderson	...	Anne Howland
Edward Ryan	...	Tommie Howland
Mark Stevens	...	Steve Purcell
B.S. Pully	...	Harry Bowser
Roy Roberts	...	Martin 'Marty' Deutsch
John Russell	...	Rogers
Norman Lloyd	...	Peter Moran
Harry Shannon	...	Head Guard 'Mac' McCafferty
Edward Kelly	...	Convict Michael Callahan
Rex Williams	...	Hobey Jenkins
Ralph Dunn	...	Pearson
Dick Rush	...	Station agent
William Halligan	...	Collins
Fred Graham	...	Guard

Storyline

Michael Howland, a stern hanging judge, is assigned to take over a chaotic prison. There Michael imposes a strict regime of discipline on the inmates. He is similarly rigid and harsh with his own two children Tommie and Anne. However, his son Tommie Howland eventually ends up incarcerated in his father's prison.

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Plot Keywords:

prison

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1946 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Muros de Expiação

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"The First Noël"
(uncredited)
Traditional
[played on the phonograph]

User Reviews

Powerful prison drama

Another gem I find today. Directed by Bruce Humberstone, a faithful director at 20th Century Fox studio who already gave us the superb I WAKE UP SCREAMING, two years before this one.

The story has already been described in the plot line. Yes,Mitchell plays here a ruthless, tough new prison warden who absolutely wants to push his own rules on the cons. Things become hard for him when his own son, well educated guy, gets involved in some of his father's cons. The young man becomes one of them. But his father doesn't change at all.

Until...

The following is outstanding: a fallen escape, gunfights, and an impressive climax between the warden and one of the cons. Very effective for such a B picture, and not so known. Poignant too, in the last sequences, where the hard and rough warden faces a new prisoner who just comes in...

I won't tell you more and spoil this little gem. You must discover it by yourself.